Mission Specials

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Site Index

 

The following Mission Specials are recommended for support by all churches of the Columbia District.  Share this material in detail with your officials. Give them the chance to select projects and specials that they wish to support.

 

NOTE:   All monies for District Mission Specials are sent to the South Carolina Conference Treasurer, on the proper remittance form with the designated PROJECT NAME AND ACCOUNT NUMBER.

 

 

1.         KILLINGSWORTH     (ACCOUNT #465)

Killingsworth is a transition home for women who have experienced a crisis in their lives. In addition to room and board, it  offers counseling, education, spiritual development, job development, life-skills and support through healthy interpersonal relationships and a growing relationship with God.  Contact person:  Reverend Diane Moseley, Executive Director, 771-6359.

 

2.                                                                                             BETHLEHEM COMMUNITY CENTER OF COLUMBIA        (ACCOUNT #414)

The Columbia Bethlehem Community Center is an inner-city multi-service agency for residents of the Edgewood, Waverly and surrounding neighborhoods in Columbia. The mission of the Center is to provide a safe and Christ-centered environment where children and youth are nurtured through activities and programs, which address their educational, spiritual, physical, mental and emotional needs.  The Center provides  after school enrichment and tutorial services, summer camp, computer laboratory, leadership training, earn-while-you learn job placement, care-giver support groups, grandparents caring for grand children support group, respite care for early dementia patients, community forums, pregnancy prevention, and parenting classes.The agency is related to the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church and to the SC Annual Conference.  Contact person: Ms. Iva Muzon, Executive Director, 254-8385.

 

3.                                                         OLIVER GOSPEL MISSION      (ACCOUNT #439)

The Oliver Gospel Mission, located at Taylor and Assembly Streets in Columbia, has been serving "poor and neglected" people since 1889.  Its mission is to glorify God and to evangelize and educate while providing food, shelter, and spiritual guidance to the poor and neglected.  Contact person: Reverend P. Wayne Fields, Executive Director, 254-6470.

 

4.         COLUMBIA DISTRICT MISSIONARIES      (ACCOUNT #419)

One of the special programs of the Board of Global Ministries is direct support of United Methodist Missionaries on field assignment in locations around the world.  Local churches and all other units of United Methodism may enter into a support agreement for the annual minimum of $3.00 per member or for a yearly gift of $1000. 

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5.                                                         DISTRICT HABITAT HOUSE        (ACCOUNT #115)

Designate funds for the Columbia District House.  All  churches are asked to share with cash and/or workers. Our goal is to HELP persons help themselves. Contact: Ms. Sue Haddock at kshaddock@hotmail.com

 

6.         COMMUNITIES OF SHALOM         (ACCOUNT # 628)

Eau Claire Community and Bluff Road Community are our two designated Shalom Zones in Columbia District Churches and community work together to rebuild and renew community life.  Contact persons:  Reverend Willie Teague, 786-9486; Ms. Millie Nelson, 786-9486; Reverend Ellis White, CH 803-432-3101.

 

7.             COOPERATIVE MINISTRY        (Account #499)

The Cooperative Ministry is a unique ministry of the religious community serving as an instrument

of God’s love to those in crisis.  Through the Ministry, religious congregations within the Greater Columbia area respond to request for help from local and transient people, improve the quality of life for the needy and visibly reflect God’s care and concern for the total well-being of all persons in our community. The Ministry offers counseling, information, referrals, and/or clothing, furniture, transportation, and direct financial assistance for rent or utilities. Special projects include a winter shelter for homeless men and women and a summer school supply drive. Contact: Reverend Art Collier, Executive Director, 799-3853.

 

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8.             COLUMBIA DISTRICT HISPANIC TASK FORCE     (ACCOUNT #410)

Columbia District Hispanic Task Force supports various outreach programs to Hispanic people who are moving into our area. In the past several years, it has sponsored programs in the Gilbert area, ESL classes at Rehoboth in Columbia and at Brookland in West Columbia, and a furniture closet at Virginia Wingard. For more information, contact Reverend Robert Cannon, 791-1450.

 

9.             EPWORTH CHILDREN’S HOME     (ACCOUNT #340)

Serving children and families of SC since founded by the Annual Conference in 1895, Epworth seeks to provide a safe environment for learning and socialization in addition to Christian maturity. Epworth is not supported by apportionment dollars, but rather depends upon the voluntary contributions of churches and individuals, wills, bequests, and trust funds. Our primary offerings through the Conference are Mother’s Day and Work Day. Back-to-School and Christmas Offerings are of huge importance. For more information contact Rev. John Holler, President, at 803-256-7394.

 

10.          SALKEHATCHIE SUMMER SERVICE (Columbia District)     (ACCOUNT #752)

Salkehatchie is a pioneering servant ministry at selected sites in South Carolina involving high school and college age youth, adult community leaders and persons of different cultures in upgrading housing, motivation community cooperative efforts by helping persons to help themselves, and providing all participants with opportunities for personal growth and service. There are 5 camps represented in the Columbia District. They are West Metro (Cayce), Blythewood, Lexington, Fairfield, and Columbia. Please designate which camp you wish to support. For more information contact Tammy Fulmer, 786-9486.

 

11.          THE FREE MEDICAL CLINIC     (ACCOUNT #499)

The Free Medical Clinic, Inc., provides quality healthcare, at no cost, to patients from Richland,  Lexington and several other counties who cannot pay for services and who have no health insurance. Organized by Reverend Bill Bouknight (former Pastor, Trenholm Road UMC) and the Bethlehem Center, the Free Medical Clinic was Incorporated on April 12, 1984 and is now located at 1875 Harden Street.  The staff and volunteers operate six examination rooms, a pharmacy, a small laboratory, a classroom for patient education and meetings, a waiting room and offices.  The clinic specifically targets those residents who do not have anywhere else to obtain their health care. It  provides primary care for patients, many who suffer from chronic diseases and conditions. Contact: Ellen Thames, Volunteer & Development Coordinator, 765-1503 ext. 205 or fmcvolunteer@hotmail.com.

 

COLUMBIA DISTRICT MISSIONARY

IN STATE

 

Shirley Townsend Jones is a Missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries serving as a Church and Community Worker with the Bennettsville-Cheraw Cooperative Ministry, Bennettsville, SC.  She coordinates, implements and supervises programs as a part of the Center’s ministry that meets the needs of the member churches and the community.  This includes nine sites of Vacation Bible School, Resource Center, educational and spiritual leadership training, 21^st Century after school grant at McColl Elementary, scouting, clothes closet, mission fairs, health fairs, young families’ awareness programs, Shalom programs, and transportation for the thirteen rural churches that comprise the cooperative ministry.  This cooperative is the first rural ministry to become involved in the Communities of Shalom project.  Mrs. Jones reflects about her ministry.  “My work continuously involves reaching out to the poor, the abused, the abandoned, the sick and the aged, the poorly housed and the malnourished.  God’s mission is being carried out through the programs and other services  we provide through the cooperative ministry.  During the summer our Vacation Bible School reaches out to over 500 children and youth.”

 

Mrs. Jones came to this mission assignment in 1991 after serving for nine years as Director of the Rockingham District’s  Black Church Development Program in her home Annual Conference, North Carolina.  She has a B.S. in Business Administration from North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC.  She and her husband, Vincent, have two children, Vincent, Jr., and Brittney Nicole.  (Missionary Code #982995)

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NATIONAL

 

Christine Denman is an Associate in Mission Service (AIMS) with the General Board of Global Ministries serving in the Red Bird Missionary Conference. She and her husband Thom–also an Associate in Mission Service–co-direct, co-plan, and lead children, youth, and adult activities at the Joy Center, a Christian community center located in Big Creek, in the rural mountainous area of Southeastern Kentucky.

The Denmans’ responsibilities include directing the children's choir, teaching senior high sunday school classes, and holding bible clubs and bible studies. In addition to their organizational ministry, Chris says that she and Thom “try to live out our faith through all these activities.”

 

The Denmans came to Red Bird and began working at The Joy Center in 1980. Through the years, they have seen God working through their ministry many times. “We particularly remember visiting one of the Sunday School children’s dad who was in the hospital,” Chris recalls.  “We visited, laughed prayed with him, then left. This man said he would drive the Sunday School bus, drive the hay wagon for Fall Fun Day or anything like that–just don’t ask him to come to church! So we didn’t.” “This gentle man, born and raised in the area, sent his children to Sunday School, and his wife started coming after a while,” Chris continues. “One day his youngest son came to know the Lord and as he was baptized, this big coal miner father was deeply touched by the Lord! To make a long but wonderful story short, this precious man is now our pastor at The Joy Center! Praise God for the way He moves in people’s lives in ways we cannot begin to imagine!”

 

A native of Orrville, OH, Chris studied early childhood education at Kent State University in Kent, OH. Before coming to The Joy Center, she directed and taught at the Trinity United Methodist Nursery School in Orrville, OH. (Missionary Code # 773919)  

 

GLOBAL

 

Brenda Kay Waddell Awad is a United Methodist missionary serving in Palestine with her husband, the Rev. Alex Awad. They are involved with a small international church in East Jerusalem and in supporting the ministry of Bethlehem Bible College (BBC).

 

In an effort to bring about reconciliation among Palestinian and Israeli believers in Christ, Brenda and her husband, Alex, participate in and support the activities of Musalaha (Arab-Israeli Reconciliation Organization). The Musalaha Ministry conducts annual activities (women’s meetings, theology of the land seminars, desert encounters, and leaders’ events) that foster ties between the two groups and promote peace and understanding amid much diversity.

 

A native of Fleming-Neon, KY, Brenda says, “My parents taught me and my ten older siblings the value of hard work, honesty, and faith in God. My parents’ influence, plus interaction with school missionary programs and church groups led me to accept Christ and the basic tenets of Christian faith at an early age. I committed my life to God to serve wherever the Holy Spirit would lead.” Acting on this rich Christian heritage and desiring to prepare for Christian service, Brenda attended Lee University in Cleveland, TN, where she received a B.S. degree in Elementary Education. While at Lee University, she was active in missions and felt the call to serve as a missionary, not knowing where God would lead. One scripture verse that seemed to follow her was Acts 1:8, “And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

 

In 1979, the Awads responded to the call to go to Bethlehem and assist with the newly formed Bethlehem Bible College. From 1985-87 they served at Hope Secondary School, a charitable boarding school for young people from ages 12-18 in Beit Jala (near Bethlehem). Most of the students were victims of previous wars and occupations in their land. During the course of this ministry the Awad family was forced to leave Israel because they were refused renewal of their tourists’ visas. In 1989 the Awads were commissioned as GBGM missionaries, but spent the next five years struggling to obtain visas to re-enter the country. During that time they served as mission interpreters in various locations on behalf of the GBGM: as Mission Interpreters In Residence (MIIRs) in Ohio from 1989-90; Peace and Justice Educators in upstate New York from 1990-91; and MIIRs in the South Central Jurisdiction from 1991-94. In 1994 they returned to Jerusalem where they continue to serve the body of Christ. Brenda and Alex now live in the Jerusalem area. (Missionary code #1082z)